Improvement in bee-hives



1). W. SMI TH.

Bee-Hive.

. Patented Feb. 4,1879.

, hereby declare that the following is a full,

Urrnn Tiaras f .FFIG.

DAVID W. SMITH, or [SAN JOSE, AssreNoR or ONE-HALF HIS RIGHTTO JAMES MURRAY, OF MENARD .ooUNrY, ILLINOIS.

IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 211,869, dated February 4, 1879; application filed December 3, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. SMITH. of San J os, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee --Hives; and I do clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawin gs, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved bee-hive with one of the lateral hinged sections swung open, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof.

The same part in the two figures is denoted by the same letter.

This invention relates to certain improvements in bee-hives, the object of which is to provide for the convenient removal of the honey or comb frames withoutdisturbing the bees in the brood-chamber, and for the passage of the bees from the main or brood chamber, at the bottom, to lateral or supplemental hinged sections or chambers, and from the latter, at the top, to the same end or part of the main chamber.

The nature of this invention consists in providing the main chamber, having four stationary im perforate walls, with. hinged supplemental sections or chambers for the reception of honey-boxes, and other details of construction, substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A refers to the main or brood chamber of the hive, having four stationary walls and containingthe frames B B, which are hung therein by supporting their upper projecting cross-pieces upon cleats or flanges a, secured to theinner sides of the chamberA, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The 10 war end of the front part of thechamber or section A is provided with a bee-entrance, a. Each of the sides of the chamber A, both at their upper and lower ends, is provided with bee-passages b, which will be referred to more particularly hereinafter.

G O are supplemental sections or chambers for the reception of honey-boxes, hung and hooked to the sides of the chamber A, by which they may be readily swung open and their contents or the honey conveniently removed. The front end pieces of the supplemental chambers (J G are provided at their lower ends with beeentrances c c, for the immediate entrance of the bees to said chambers. The inner sides of the said end pieces of the chambers G O are provided with shoulders or supports 0 0, upon which to support or hang the frames 0 U, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. These frames are each divided up into two compartments by a central cross-piece, G fastened in each frame. Into these compartments are placed a number of smaller or comb frames proper, D D, arranged therein as shown in the two figures, more particularly as seen in Fig. 1.

In the outer sides of the chambers are glasscovered openings, over which slide doors E, by the partial or entire removal of which the contents of the chambers G can be inspected without disturbing the bees.

It will be observed that the bees can pass from the brood or main chamberA at the bottom to either of the supplemental chambers O (J through the passages 12, and from the supplemental chambers to the upper part of the brood-chamber through the passages 12, and they can then descend into and pass out of the said chamber to seek food, 850.; or the bees can pass from the upper end of the brood-chamber into either supplemental chamber, and down through and out of the latter, after depositing the honey, back into the lower end of the broodchamber and out through its entrance; or they can pass out directly from said supplemental chambers through their entrance-openin gs c c.

A cover or roof, F, is placed over the upper ends of the brood or central chamber, A, and the supplemental chambers O C.

I am aware that a bee-hive having a hinged side provided with honey-boxes and passages communicating with brood-chamber, which, when opened, exposes the brood-chamber to the light and air, is not new Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is

1. The main or brood chamber A, having four stationary walls, in combination with the hinged supplemental sections or chambers for the reception .of honey-boxes, substantially as set forth.

2. The brood-chamber A, having four stationary and imperforate walls, the side walls having passages b I) at their upper and lower ends, in combination with the hinged supplemental sections or chambers for the reception of honey-boxes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The supplemental chambers G, provided with the inner shoulders, 0', near their upper ends, in combination with the frames 0, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

ISAIAH THOMAS, S. G. LEAVITT. 

